Iranian army and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have joined rescue operations in snow-bound northern provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran, Iranian State IRINN TV reported on Feb. 4.

Thousands of people are trapped in the snow in the region and the electricity transmission cables have been damaged due to snowfall.

According to the latest reports, four people have died. Due to heavy snow falls, people who needed medical attention, were not able to reach the hospital in time in Iran's Mazandaran province (Tonkabon city), Tabnak.ir news website reported.

Military helicopters have been sent to the critical regions, deputy Commander of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Mahmoudi said, adding that the helicopters will start rescue operations as soon as the weather condition are suitable.

He went on to say that the army's personnel carriers have been dispatched to Gilan this morning to rescue people who were trapped by the snow.

Heavy snowfall has closed roads in several villages in Gilan Province, he added.

On the other hand, Iran's ISNA news agency quoted deputy chief of Iranian police, Ahmadreza Radan as saying the police forces are in full readiness in the Gilan and Mazandaran provinces.

Special units of the police have joined rescue efforts in the region since yesterday, Radan added.

Schools in Iranian capital city of Tehran and the country's 20 provinces including Ardabil, Markazi, North Khorasan, Hamedan, Qom, Gilan, Mazandaran, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan and Esfahan have been postponed due to heavy snowfall.

The weather in these provinces is not expected to change before later this week and therefore classes at schools may be postponed for a few days.